Bookings Closed: Please note that bookings for this Tour have been closed. Please get in touch with us if you have questions.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

A seven-night/eight-day Tour to three of Tanzania's best-known wildlife destinations

A comprehensive experience of the expansive beauty of the Serengeti Ecosystem

An overwhelming variety and population of fauna in the wildebeest calving season

Make images teeming with atmosphere and touched by some of the most dramatic natural light anywhere on the planet

Glean a world of natural history and photography knowledge through Toehold's exclusive ChaayaaChitra

ChaayaaChitra: Photography Techniques, Tips, Tricks

, ChitraTantra

ChitraTantra: Photo Principles, Reviews, Critique

, Charchaaloka

Charchaaloka: Presentations, Lectures, Discussions

sessions

Extensive photography assistance both on and off the field

A wealth of natural history, photography post-processing learning with an expert Skipper

Subjugated by an ever-growing human footprint, few countries can claim to have vast expanses of land where animals in large numbers still roam freely. Tanzania is one of them. And it is 'plainly' spectacular.

So while it is unclear whether you will ever have enough of it, it is certain that in the 'land of the endless plains,' your amazement will be boundless too.

How is it?

Neighbouring Kenya in the north, this East African wildlife refuge hosts one of Earth's largest and most spectacular theatres of Nature - the Serengeti Ecosystem. Together with other natural treasures spanning its length and breadth, it has weathered the ravages of time to remain the wild soul of the African continent. And tapping into its juiciest part at the right time, this fulsome Tour will show you the best side of wild Tanzania.

Spread over 15000km2, Serengeti National Park is the famous venue of one of the planet's epic spectacles the Great Migration of over 1.5million compulsive white-bearded wildebeest and some 250,000 zebra, who move along the length of the national park and cross borders into Kenya in search of grass that is literally greener on the other side. Notified for protection by the British in 1951, its exceptional density of predator and prey has made it Africa's best wild haven. Composed of savannah grassland, riparian woodland and rocky outcrops called kopjes, the Serengeti embodies the enduring symbol of the African bush.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes the Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera formed when a giant volcano committed harakiri some three million years ago. Its demise paved the way for a lavish variety of wildlife to thrive in the 2000ft deep, 260km2 pothole that you won't mind taking a ride in and is clearly a paradigm shift from the vehicle-breaking urban variety.

What you will see and photograph:

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

January, the calving season, is when miniature wildebeest and zebra emerge into the savannah, marking the midterm of the migration.

This is a good time to be born because the rain has made the grass ripe and succulent. Buoyed, the herds move northwest from Ngorongoro. Intercepting this advance, you will behold the spectacle of a large number of hooves and horns dominating the landscape. Even at its lowest ebb, the scale, the sounds and the unending quest of life make even a Charlie Sheen film seem a bit underwhelming.

Apart from the ungulates, Africa's famed Big Five are an expected draw. Lion prides lie sprawled on the plains while cheetahs go like stink in pursuit of 'fast food'. Coexisting with the cats, elephants drift gracefully, rhinos stand their ground flaunting snout-top spikes of hair, and plucky warthogs fittingly dubbed the Savannah Express trot across the frame with their piglets in tow in a single file.

In the more aerodynamic class of creatures, the imperious martial eagle and the strikingly designed bateleur eagle reign supreme over the skies. Down below, the magnificent crowned crane and the unique southern ground hornbill lend themselves beautifully to photographs. As many as five varieties of vulture the Ruppell's, the griffon, the white-backed, the lappet-faced and the hooded form a most effective sanitation team as they sweep the savannah clean of leftovers.

But the most precious treasure on the Tour will be unearthed in Seronera Valley, around which a bulk of our safaris will revolve. Harbouring the mercurial leopard in the giant sausage trees on the banks of the river, where a variety of herbivores are attracted for a drink, this is the best place in East Africa to observe and photograph the most elusive of the continent's big cats, and is probably the only place in the world that can hold a candle to the prodigious Masai Mara.

NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

(Optional Extension)

With an estimated 25,000 animals within the crater itself, Ngorongoro hosts almost every individual species of wildlife in East Africa. Clearly, there's a lot cooking in this caldera as you realize that it's much more than merely a game reserve in a giant pothole.

Most notable among the celebrities are the rare black rhino and the cantankerous hippopotamus. Saline lakes fed by shallow streams foster the graceful flamingo. Lion and cheetah allow delightful early-morning and late-evening atmospheric images and bewilderingly large bull elephants, free from competition in the crater, have made this terrain their own, especially once they're past their prime, to the extent that Ngorongoro is referred to as the 'old age retirement home for elephants' a 'retirement home' that can bring even retired photographers raring back into action!

Important Prerequisite: All participants of the Tour mandatorily need to be vaccinated against yellow fever and polio to be allowed to travel to Africa. Please talk to us for assistance.

PHOTOGRAPHY SKIPPER

Sachin Rai

An uncompromising reverence for nature and an unfailing eye for unique perspectives underline Sachin's journey as an ace naturalist and eminent wildlife photographer with over a decade's experience in excellence. Famous for his special love for amphibians and tigers, Sachin is a veritable treasure chest of natural-history knowledge and photographic expertise, and his quick wit and infectious passion make for riotous company!

Sachin has been documenting many of the less-known and little-noticed aspects of the wild and constantly perseveres to share his experiences with citizens and scientists, especially through his photography website which is an enriching resource for budding wildlife enthusiasts and naturalists. An active supporter of many conservation NGOs, Sachin invests a lot of his time in their outreach activities and has led several expeditions in search of rare species, even rediscovering a 'lost' species of frog 73 years after its first sighting and description. For his stellar work in photography, Sachin has been honoured with prestigious accolades, including the Photographer of the Year award by Sanctuary Asia in 2008 and the first prize at the DJ Memorial Photo Contest in 2013.

WHY GO ON A TOEHOLD PHOTO TOUR?

At Toehold, we are passionate about photography just as you are, which lets us understand your travails and needs perfectly. And we use this insight to specially design our Photography Tours so they give you a toehold to excel at the art and set you up for success.

The Toehold team at your disposal will keep you tuned and geared, so you come in empty-handed but go out with bagful of images and tales of an experience that is better lived than heard.

Specifically, you will get -

A clinically organized tour with utmost attention to your comfort and needs

An open, informal environment that promotes interactive learning

A team that will strategize and work to a plan to optimize opportunities and ensure a great tour

Practical, hands-on assistance in photography from the tour Skippers both in the field and off it

A wealth of subject matter knowledge

Individual interaction with the Skippers over general or specific issues

First-hand learning from the masters in the art and craft of photography

That's not all. When you're not out in the field using the camera, you will learn and enjoy our sessions on photography techniques, photograph reviews and presentations and discussions on topics relevant to the Photo Tour in question.

These exclusive, informative and interactive sessions are -

ChaayaaChitra (Photography Techniques, Tips, Tricks) - One of your Toehold Skippers will impart key practical knowledge on photography technique, post-processing essentials and related subjects and even the skills and techniques required for a particular form of photography or at a particular locale. This offers a great chance of understanding key aspects of technique and pick up useful tips that you can easily put into practice. We call this ChaayaChitra because it's all about photography.

ChitraTantra (Photo Principles, Reviews, Critique) - Your Toehold Skippers will critique images that can be nominated by tour participants, to enable discussion on how they could be improved. These impromptu discussions benefit everybody, since they are a great way of learning to see the advanced subtleties that make a significant difference, and master the artistic aspects of photography. We call this ChitraTantra as we delve deep into the good and not-so-good aspects of your results and discuss the attributes that can turn an ordinary picture into a special image.

Charchaaloka (Presentations, Lectures, Discussions) - One of your Toehold Skippers will deliver a talk on a subject of interest related to the tour/destination or novel sub-genres of photography. Depending on the kind of tour you are on, this presentation/talk should improve your subject matter expertise and enable you with ample knowledge of your subject, destination or form of photography you are expected to practice during this trip. This is akin to a surprise treasure-chest of fascinating knowledge on intriguing topics that will make your Photo Tour experience complete. We call this Charchaaloka as we expect everyone to participate in the discussion and presentation brainstorming ideas, issues, solutions and experiences.

TESTIMONIALS BY OUR PREVIOUS TOUR PARTICIPANTS

Photography enthusiasts who were a part of a similar Tour previously said:

We spent five beautiful days in this great place (Masai Mara), and were able to see all the three big cats. The highlight was the cheetah hunt, when five cheetahs charged and killed a male impala - It was a fantastic experience, and we really can't expect more.
The way the tour was organised and the places we stayed in were simply fantastic. Jayanth was a great Skipper. I was astounded by the way he could virtually read the cheetah's mind and put us in the best possible angle to shoot from. I learned a lot of techniques from him, and after this tour, can can safely say that I'm finally able to take a flawless photograph.
- Dr Senthil Kandeepan, Delhi

Rather than list a string of adjectives, let me share a short story that occurred during a recent Masai Mara tour, which typifies the reason I continue to go on photo safaris with Jayanth.
Early one morning Jay spotted a female leopard near the Mara River. Our Land Rover tracked her for the entire morning as she made two unsuccessful yet exciting hunting attempts. She was hungry, had cubs to feed and we knew she would make another hunt attempt. At 12:15 pm, Jay made a key decision: rather than break off from tracking Siri and driving 45 minutes back to the camp for lunch (which would have almost certainly resulted in our not being able to locate her in the afternoon), he radioed our camp asking them to send box lunches to us so that we could maintain visual contact with the gorgeous cat and not miss any photo opportunities. Jay did not want us to miss the rare opportunity of witnessing a leopard hunt.
This is the kind of client-focused decision that is the highlight of all of the trips I have been on. I hope to be fortunate enough to join Jay on future photo safaris.
- Tom Ori, Colorado Springs, USA

It was a 50th birthday wish for my wife to visit Kenya and she had decided on a photography tour with Toehold, led by Sachin Rai. I truly was not expecting the red carpet treatment considering their reasonable rates, and had prepared for the worst, but to my surprise the tour was well planned, executed with no issues at all (truly), because at every turn, our Skipper Sachin seemed to always be one step ahead of everything that was needed. The added bonus was the care and consideration this man took with his two rookies who knew little to nothing of photography. Here is a man that in less than three days had us shooting like pros, and even encouraged specific focusing on magazine-worthy photos while we were out in the field. I am pleased to say I have at least a few that I could not be more proud of due to his guidance.
No matter what stage in life as a photographer you are, this tour is well thought out, and plenty of room is provided, and you will not find yourself crammed in a vehicle with no room to spare. There was never more than three or four in a vehicle that seated nine. From sunrise to sunset, Sachin had amazing energy, and we could not have imagined a more incredible experience. Without doubt we will be seeing him again. He and his company gave us a journey of a lifetime.
- Raymond Solorzano Reno, Nevada

A small note to thank you for the great time I had on the two photo tours to Masai Mara and Rwanda. Your organisation was meticulous, something that many professional tour agencies lack in their approach. I eagerly look forward to more such tours.
- Ajith Pai, Mysore

After seeing five different prides of lions, two cheetah hunts, following a leopardess and six days of bliss in the Mara, I can safely say this is one of the best weeks of my life. All I have to say is: just go with Toehold; don't think about it!
- Siddharth Reddy, Bangalore

Highly recommend traveling to Africa with Toehold! Great learning for my kids and a very enjoyable experience.
- Manjunath H, Bangalore

I never imagined to see such professionalism and personal touch in a young company. My worries were laid to rest the moment I landed in Nairobi. Salute Toehold and thank you for this experience.
- Sanjay Sridhar, Chennai

First I want to thank you for making this trip a memorable one for me, I was really very happy with the kind of audience we had in this group and it was a pleasure interacting with most of them. It was a very good learning experience for me in the filed of photography and I being a novice I got immensely benefited with this tour
- Satish K, Hyderabad

I am constantly impressed by the efficiency, knowledge and quality of the Professional services offered by Toehold team. I was extremely satisfied with the arrangements done for our Kenya Tour which was conducted during May 2012. The Location of accommodation were very well thought over to save the time of travel inside the game reserve. Being a Vegetarian, I didn't face any problems in finding suitable food option in the buffet. No need to mention about the Skippers who were very cooperative and were guiding the participants with their rich experience. It was a totally Successful trip, where in I could take images of all BIG 5. Not to forget that this trip has helped me a lot in securing my ARPS distinction as well.
- Prasanna Venkatesh, Bangalore

Please click on any thumbnail and use the left and right arrow keys to navigate between photos in the gallery.

Please note:

1. The Tour will begin at Kilimanjaro Airport on 7 March 2017 (6 March 2017 if you opt for the pre-Tour Ngorongoro extension), and end at Kilimanjaro on 14 March. Airfare between your home and Kilimanjaro Airport, and from Arusha to your home is NOT included in the Tour cost, but flight from Serengeti to Arusha is.

2. If you're not opting for the Ngorongoro extension, we recommend you arrive anytime on 6 March 2017 in Kilimanjaro, and stay at a hotel (at extra cost), since the transfer from Kilimanjaro to Ndutu takes about seven hours.

3. If you're opting for the Ngorongoro extension, please see below.

ONE-NIGHT OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR EXTENSION: NGORONGORO

DAY I 6 March 2017, Monday: Kilimanjaro Airport to Ngorongoro; Overnight in Ngorongoro

We recommend participants desirous of making the most of their Tanzania experience to opt in for the Ngorongoro extension. If you do, you're required to arrive in Kilimanjaro latest by 2:30 p.m. on 6 March. If you're flying from Bangalore, we recommend the Qatar Airways flight via Doha, arriving in Kilimanjaro at 2:20 p.m. If you're flying from Mumbai, we recommend you fly to Bangalore and take the same flight, since the Kenya Airways flight from Mumbai has a layover in Nairobi of 12 hours, arriving in Kilimanjaro at 9:00 a.m., following which you'll have to wait at the airport until 3:00 p.m.)

DAY II (Extension)/DAY 1 (Core Tour) 7 March 2017, Tuesday: Half-Day Safari in Ngorongoro; Transfer to and Overnight in Ndutu

Participants on the extension enjoy half a day in the amazing Ngorongoro Crater, looking for rhinos, lions and the famous bull elephants, using the amazing bluish backgrounds in the Crater to make striking images. Meanwhile, participants joining us only for the Core Tour are ferried from Kilimanjaro to Ngorongoro by the time we're done in the Crater, from where we drive together to Ndutu and check in.

Over dinner, Skipper Sachin Rai will brief the group on what to expect on the rest of the Tour before calling it a day.

NDUTU

DAYS 2 TO 4 8 to 10 March 2017, Wednesday to Friday: All-day Safaris and Overnight in Ndutu

For the next three days, we enjoy all-day safaris in Ndutu, with our lovely camp in the bush acting as our refreshing base on our quest for the best of Tanzanian wildlife, as we fill our memory cells and cards with the many splendours it has to offer. Each morning we hit the safari track at 6:00 a.m., enabling ourselves with such an early start to catch plenty of action during the most active hours of the day, and staying in the park the entire day with packed lunch boxes, we arrive at the lodge for dinner by 7:00 p.m.

SERENGETI CENTRAL

DAY 5 11 March, Saturday: Transfer to Serengeti Central and Overnight in Serengeti

After a last early-morning drive in Ndutu, we depart for Serengeti Central, reaching there by 12 noon, whereupon we are transferred to our gorgeous lodge. After a preliminary safari in the evening, we dine and retire in the lodge with colourful dreams of more African wildlife goodness that lies ahead.

DAYS 6 AND 7 12 and 13 March, Sunday and Monday: All-day Safaris and Overnight in Serengeti

Staying inside the reserve, we enjoy the indescribable luxury of roaming the Serengeti plains for two full days, each day venturing into the field even as the first rays of the sun kiss the grass blades, and returning to our nests as the orange ball of fire hoists itself down the distant horizon.

While gratifying encounters with lions are virtually engraved in the wall, the spellbinding views of the calving wildebeest are certain to get the image counter ringing. Leopard and cheetah are all but guaranteed attractions, but regaling us will also be all the various local stars depicted in the What you will see and photograph section in the 'Overview' tab.
All the exciting action will carry over to the camp after safari hours too, with Toehold's exclusive ChaayaaChitra

After every evening's discussion will follow an appetising spread of Indian, Continental and local cuisine, treating your taste buds with the same zeal with which the visuals have treated your eyes through the day. Following a delectable supper, we are lulled into a dreamless sleep by the fascinating sounds of the African bush.

After an early breakfast, we fly to Kilimanjaro Airport, whence we take our flights back home all the richer for the fascinating experience in Tanzania's wilderness haven.

Individuals USD 4,6905% GST Extra

Per Person on Twin Share Accommodation

Couples USD 9,1905% GST Extra

Per Couple on Twin Share Accommodation

PatronsUSD 4,5505% GST Extra

Per Person on Twin Share Accommodation

Toehold Patrons: Customers who have participated in at least three previous Toehold Photo Tours

Optional Two-Night Ngorongoro Extension: USD 622per person

All drives will be in 4WD safari vehicles perfect for photography, seating four people in a vehicle.

Inclusions

All safaris in four-wheel-drive safari vehicles, national parks and reserve entrance fees as per the itinerary

Accommodation on twin-sharing (unless single occupancy purchased at extra cost), all meals and one-litre mineral water per day for the Tour duration

Services of an English-speaking driver-cum-naturalist including meet-and-greet services

Charter flight from Serengeti Central to Kilimanjaro Airport

Exclusions

All airfare and travel expenses between your home and the destinations

Optional Tour to Ngorongoro unless purchased at extra cost in advance

Any kind of personal expenses, optional tours or extra meals ordered

Insurance, laundry and phone calls

Any kind of drinks (alcoholic, mineral, aerated)

Visa expenses

Vaccination charges

All applicable taxes

Anything that is not included in the inclusions list

Payment Terms

USD 1500 booking amount for provisional reservation (non-refundable)

100% before 31 December 2016

You may also choose to pay in equal monthly instalments (EMI). Please speak with us for details.

Cancellation Fees

USD 1500 on or before 4 January 2017

100% on or after 5 January 2017

Please note: The date of written (email) communication of intent to cancel is the date considered for calculation of the cancellation fees.

Terms and Conditions

Please note: A minimum of seven participants are required for this Tour to go ahead. If the Tour is called off by Toehold, you will receive a full refund of the fee you have paid. If, however, you wish to cancel your booking at any time, Toehold will deduct cancellation fees from your refund as specified on the right.

Participants who have a medical history of blood pressure, heart-related problems or asthma are advised to seek medical advice before enrolling for this Tour.

Fitness to complete the Tour is the only criterion for participation.

Toehold Travel & Photography Pvt Ltd. shall not be responsible for injuries, damages, or losses caused to any traveller in connection with terrorist activities, social or labour unrest, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climatic conditions, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside the travel partner's control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should participate in this Tour?

This Tour is open to everybody of a minimum age of 18 (unless accompanied by a guardian), and anybody enthusiastic about wildlife and/or photography will enjoy it. Apart from interest, fitness, a valid passport and yellow-fever and polio vaccination cards, there are no other requirements.

I am a newbie in wildlife photography. Am I eligible?

Absolutely! This Tour is meant for fledgling as well as experienced wildlife photographers. Beginners get all the advantages of learning on and off the field from Toehold's eminent Skippers. If you are a newbie, you should jump on this terrific learning opportunity and sign up right away! However, in order to make the most of the Tour photographically, we recommend that you be familiar with at least the basics of DSLR photography. If you're not, please consider joining an Art and Science of Photography Workshop before the Tour.

Is vaccination against yellow fever and polio mandatory?

Yes; the vaccination is mandatory in many countries including India. Once you sign up we'll be happy to advise you on how to get one.

Is an earlier vaccination card valid?

Yellow fever vaccination is valid for a period of 10 years from the date of administration, but polio vaccination is valid for only a year. Please check your vaccination card to verify validity. Please note that the vaccination must be valid as on the date of your return to your country after the Tour.

How many participants will share a safari vehicle on this Tour?

Our Tanzania Photography Tour is designed to provide you the best balance between unimpeded photography and your budgetary needs, seating four in each 4WD vehicle. The vehicle has three rows at the back (excluding the driver row), which means plenty of free space.

How different are your Photo Tours from ordinary tours?

Unlike travel agents who plan your holiday from a remote destination to places they sometimes haven't even experienced themselves, Photo Tours offer a comprehensive toehold to experience a place through the guidance of a professional photographer. The common ingredients in all our Photo Tours are fun and a lot of learning and knowledge sharing. Besides, most of our Tour participants are photography enthusiasts, which keeps the group in harmony and helps in making your experience focused.

How sure are you about photographing wildlife on this Tour?

Considering the meticulous attention to timing we pay while scheduling Tour and the local expertise we leverage, we believe that it would be extremely unfortunate if our sightings and photography were unsatisfactory. Also, the exhaustive itinerary should offer ample opportunities for a productive time. However, since we will be in an uncontrolled environment, we stop just short of claiming that sightings are guaranteed.

What equipment do you suggest on this Tour?

A wide-angle or normal zoom is a staple for landscape and general photography. For birds and mammals, a focal length of at least 300mm is usually necessary. An additional 100mm often proves very effective especially for birds, and longer focal lengths are particularly welcome on full frame cameras.

I do not have appropriate equipment. What do I do?

If you do not have appropriate equipment, there is no need to fret. Toehold offers an exhaustive array of cameras and lenses for hire, so you can always hire what you need. What's better, you enjoy a 10% discount on all equipment hired on our Photo Tours! Click here to see what we offer.